- Notwithstanding all of Princess Shao Ning’s protests, the Emperor eventually made his choice out of the nobles and she is engaged to be married off next year. With her assignment done, Zhi Wei finds time to go home to see Mama Feng.
“Ha Er (Feng Hao) disappeared.” Mama Feng says the first moment she sees Zhi Wei, without asking why she has been gone for so long “Can you help me find him?”
Suppressing the many questions that are clamoring in her heart, Zhi Wei replies “He is in the dungeon.”
“What happened?” Shocked, Mama Feng asks.
After listening to Zhi Wei’s simple explanation of what happened, Mama Feng says after a long moment “Your brother was just being greedy. You should think of a way to get him out, how can he handle suffering in a place like that.”
“You are so certain I can get him out?” Zhi Wei smiles even as her expression darkens.
Mama Feng replies “You are my daughter. I know what you are capable of and what you are not. I know very clearly if you would just go ask Prince Helian for a favor, Feng Hao could be released right away.”
Her heart sinks, Zhi Wei sneers “Last time when he came to ask for my hand, you chased him away but now you want me to ask him for a favor?”
“If you won’t go, then I will!” Mama Feng turns to leave “I just counted on the generosity of those who are from the wild grasslands. I had no intention of selling you off.”
Take aback, Zhi Wei sense something seems different with her mother today and softs her voice “Alright, I will let him out but…”
“What?”
“Once I get my brother out, we as a family leave the Capital, alright?” Thinking of Ning Yi’s words (I am assuming she is referring to what our hero said during their conversation at the academy.), Zhi Wei stares into Mama Feng’s eyes and says slowly “Things are too complicated here. Let’s find a place far away, near the mountain and the water, okay?”
Mama Feng stops in her track. From where Zhi Wei is standing she can see Mama Feng’s fingers are all intertwined together.
Zhi Wei knows that is something her mother only does when she is truly shaken. Staring at those hands, Zhi Wei suddenly says “I won’t ask you my brother’s identity. I won’t ask you why you taught me the things you did. I figure the purpose is none other for me to protect him. Because of you, I accept it. But I want to remind you, if Feng Hao is so precious to you, then why come to the Capital where the situation is so complicated? If you thinking to hide in plain sight is the best way of hiding, then I tell you now this will not work on Feng Hao. Letting him live somewhere far and away from everyone’s knowledge is his best chance of living a long life.”
Mama Feng’s body trembled but she didn’t turn around. Her hands untangled suddenly. Turning around after a long moment, Mama Feng stares at Zhi Wei long and hard “You really mean what you said?”
“Yes.”
“You have no lingering desire for the Capital?”
“…..yes.”
“Alright.” Mama Feng stares at Zhi Wei, her expression a mixture of disappointment and relief but surprisingly without any hint of hesitation “After you get your brother out, then three of us will leave the Capital.”
“Alright.” Zhi Wei press down the heartache and pain that suddenly spilled out from her heart then says “Once Feng Hao is back, we will leave. From that point on, we will never step foot again in Capital.”
- Things of course doesn’t go as our heroine planned. The Emperor suddenly summons Zhi Wei into the palace and sends her on an expedition out to the south sea.
“I will appoint some guards to accompany you.” The Emperor says “Things are getting restless at south sea so the sooner you get there the better. It’s not like you have families in Capital to say goodbye to, so just leave right away.”
Surprised, Zhi Wei has no choice but to agree. Thinking that she won’t have time to say goodbye to her mother nor have the time to get her brother out of the dungeon, Zhi Wei resorts to blinking her eyes a few times secretly at Ning Yi. Much to her frustration, the guy seems completely unable to read her signal and just smile brightly back at her.
What are you smiling at?! Like a fool! Zhi Wei complains silently but part of her is also glad that she has a chance to go far away, she is free. She finally doesn’t have to see Prince Chu’s stunning smile, so great.
- The Emperor told Zhi Wei she could pick a few people from the academy to accompany her. All the students knew this is a great opportunity to prove themselves, so everyone was clamoring to be picked by Zhi Wei. Looking over at the crowd of students, Zhi Wei spots a familiar face who is not so gently pushing back anyone who tries to squeeze in front of him.
Zhi Wei yells “Helian, go away! This has nothing to do with you!”
“As the academy’s best student, it is my duty.” Helian says with all seriousness.
“As the academy’s highest authority.” Zhi Wei gives him a fake smile “I will not permit this and I express my total disagreement with your previous statement.”
“I am going to go find my little aunt!” Helian pretends that he is about to march off “My aunt taught me that I should win with reason. I am not going to argue with you, I will go find my aunt to reason with you.”
Shaking her head, Zhi Wei swallow a laugh and drags him off to the side “How can you go? The Emperor won’t allow it either!”
“Father gave me a year to come have an audience with the Emperor and to experience more things.” Helian laughs “As long as the conflict between our two countries is not resolved, I won’t be allowed to go back. You know I am like half of a hostage.”
Rising an eyebrow, Zhi Wei thought it’s not like you act like one.
“The Emperor is fine with me following you.” Helian says jovially “He will only get a headache if I stay.”
“Fine” Zhi Wei holds out her hand “A few small conditions.”
“Deal!”
“You can’t spy on me, you can’t climb walls, you are not allowed to bring out the aunt business at any time. You are not to attempt to get close to my carriage. You won’t be given any special privileges. You have to follow all the academy rules AND any rule I deem as necessary to add at any time.”
“Deal!”
Raising an eyebrow, Zhi Wei casts a doubtful look towards the exceptionally agreeable Prince Helian but His Highness is already skipping off to pack his bags while muttering under his breath “No matter what, I have to trick her into letting me go first or else my half baked aunty duck is going to end up in someone else’s mouth.” (This is a reference to a common Chinese comparison of a guy getting a girl to eating duck…that sounded really weird when I wrote that out.)
“What is he saying?” Zhi Wei asks Master Gu who just walked in the door.
“He, duck.” Munching on a walnut, Master Gu gives his trademark short and concise answer.
Bidding goodbye to all the officials who have come to see her off, Zhi Wei stares at the ornate buildings of the Capital as it gets further away and is suddenly hit by a sense of melancholy. This is the first time she has left the Capital but her family is not even aware she is leaving. In that moment, it feels like she is a kite snapped from its string and sent off by the wind to far far away.
Zhi Wei could almost see in her mind her mother leaning against the door with a sad expression. There are too many things in this world that forces our actions. With a heavy heart, Zhi Wei consols herself that she will have to wait until she gets back from south sea to keep the promise she made with her mother.
Looking around at all the happy excited smiles, Zhi Wei makes her own lips form into a smile and slowly climb into her carriage, raise the blind and froze.
Lovely grape wine in a transparent crystal cup, someone is sleeping on her bed.
That certain someone is laying on her golden silk sheet, leaning against her soft pillow, holding her crystal cup. Through the deep red colored wine, staring at her with eyes that seems even more intoxicating than the wine, a certain someone says “The color of this wine is certainly beautiful.”
Her lips tugging upward into a stiff smile, Zhi Wei wavers between bowing or pushing a certain someone off? Before she could make up her mind, a certain someone says perversely “Like your blood.”
Quickly making up her mind, Zhi Wei yells “Dry walnut!”
In a flash, a sword plunge through the top of carriage straight for a certain someone’s head.
A certain someone languidly drinks his win, not moving an inch, the wine in the cup didn’t even make a single ripple.
The sword pulls back and slashes across the crystal cup barely missing a certain someone’s head.
A drop of the deep red wine flew into Ning Yi’s waiting lips. Biting his lips like he is savoring the taste, Ning Yi smilingly says “Thank you, Master Gu for the wine.”
Letting out a sigh, Zhi Wei calls out “Walnut shell!”
The sword disappears, leaving a hole on the carriage roof but it quickly was covered up by the ever versatile walnut
Walnut meat– Kill! Walnut Shell– Escape! Dry Walnut –To scare! Walnut powder– Do as you see fit! Walnut–I want!
This is the code words Zhi Wei and Gu Nan Yi have figured out recently.
All text copyright @ www.Ninja-Reflection.com
Wow! This guy Ning Yi, he’s smooth as silk, unhindered by anything to get his girl. He’s so different in that aspect than the drama. I’m pretty sure Ning Yi figured out what she was saying when she was blinking her eyes, was he just messing with her? Her assessment of what’s going on within her family is legitimate, what lead her to think that way? Thanks again for translating, truly amazing.
Yap, there is no question Ning Yi knew exactly what Wei Wei is trying to tell him so he was just messing with her.
So, everyone assumes the last remaining blood of the last empire must be a son. Why? No one knows the real purpose of Bloody Pagoda which means they all naturally assumes as the faithful servants of Da Cheng, the members of Bloody Pagoda’s sole focus must be to reestablish their lost empire….for that, they need a Prince. Traditionally, princesses are only good for political marriage alliances so it really doesn’t make any sense for Bloody Pagoda to save a princess instead of a prince. Moreover, Mama Feng’s attitude towards Feng Hao is also misleading. Based on Mama Feng’s treatment of the two siblings, it would be natural for Zhi Wei to think Feng Hao must be the last royal blood instead of herself.
I agree to, a smooth move by Ning Yi. Did the Emperor agree for Ning Yi to accompany her? This scene is very different from the book, although some words are the same. Also at this time is ZW having doubts about her relations and who she really is? Mama Feng is not really expressing her feelings clearly? When did she meet with Helian and how is it that she is asking him for help rather than Ning Yi? Also in the novel what are her impressions of Ning Yi and his relationship with ZW? How does she feel about him? I can’t wait to see what will happen next!!!!!!!!!!!
Ning Yi will explain how he ended up in the carriage in the next post.
Our heroine is starting to wonder if Feng Hao is the last remaining royal blood of Da Cheng. (Remember in the previous post where Zhi Wei asks Ning Yi why he is so interested in Feng Hao? Our hero obviously is having the same suspicion as well.) Mama Feng is a much more complex (and awesome) character in the novel than she was in the drama, so a lot of things that doesn’t make sense about her right now will become clear later on.
Remember the part about Helian going to Feng Manor to ask…well, demand Zhi Wei to marry him and ended up losing the bet, which is why he is calling Zhi Wei “aunt” now? I can’t remember for sure, but I am assuming that’s when Mama Feng met Helian.
If I remember correctly, Mama Feng really didn’t have too much knowledge of Zhi Wei’s dealing with Ning Yi. I don’t believe the whole heart breaking scene of Mama Feng forcing Zhi Wei to swear that she will never marry Ning Yi ever happened in the novel. (Which by the way, would not have made any sense in the novel. Zhi Wei might not know who she is, but Mama Feng knows full well of our heroine’s identity so that makes our heroine Mama Feng’s master. It would’ve been a horrifying idea to think a servant can force her master make such a vow.)
Thanks for the extra details from the novel. On one hand, I understand that in the drama, Mama Feng came to love Zhiwei as her daughter and may have acted upon those maternal feelings along with her grudge against Ning Yi, in order to force Zhiwei to make that oath. But I think it makes more sense that Mama Feng would set a clear line between herself and her master, princess Zhiwei.
Yea makes sense, it do look like Feng Hao would suspiciously be the last remnant at this point. In the drama was the ninth prince really her brother? If he was why all the focus on Feng Zhi Wei from early out? I find it strange that he was running a underground slave market to support his followers. How were they suppose to rebuild Da Cheng without proper financing, a proper army? That storyline didn’t make any sense to me. The drama gives a better understanding so far. I’m guessing Prince Helian was introduced earlier in the novel as opposed to the drama. Next week sounds exciting, can’t get enough of our two leads
Wait…I must have missed something very important in the drama (which is easy to do since I got too impatient towards the last half). In the drama, the 9th Prince was Zhi Wei’s brother?! That would be a huge change from the novel because Zhi Wei is the ONLY and LAST royal blood of Da Cheng. The biggest difference between the novel and the drama is the focus on rebuilding Da Cheng. In the novel, despite what everyone assumes, rebuilding Da Cheng was never Bloody Pagoda’s purpose. Now, you have a few random characters (ie. Mama Feng) who wanted Zhi Wei to rebuild Da Cheng but the core of Bloody Pagoda knew their order from their creators (the leads in Fuyao) was to protect Zhi Wei and help our heroine in whatever path she choose.
Her being the last and only royal blood makes complete sense. My bad he was the fourth prince(not the ninth) of Da Cheng. In the drama he came out of nowhere, with no past claiming to be Zhi Wei’s brother. Plot and schemed his way into her life, ended up brainwashing her(turning her against Ning Yi). He was the one that convinced Prince Helian to do something drastic in order for her to see the evil that was now Ning Yi, with that Prince Helian pretended he was shooting Zhi Whi, we all know what happened after that. The brother was pure evil, he was made up of nothing but hatred. The most devastating thing about the drama was that Ning Yi was trying to protect them from the start and he ending up getting blamed for everything under the sun regarding Da Cheng.
I did not enjoy that arc with Zhangsun Hong near the end. Like you said, he came out of nowhere, and his existence pretty much defeats the purpose of the whole “remnant” of Da Cheng that Zhiwei is supposed to be antagonized for. Zhiwei says in the drama that Ning Yi never asked her what she wanted; but that goes for pretty much everyone around her throughout the drama and makes Zhangsun Hong and his followers that much more annoying to me. All that rebuilding Da Cheng nonsense could have been handed over to him from the beginning and our Zhiwei could have had a less painful love story with a more likely happy ending with Ning Yi. ><
I was conflicted by that question she asked Ning Yi and was even more conflicted by his answer. How could he not know what she wanted? I guess it’s the guilt he carries with him regarding the death of her mother and brother. The same guilt that made him question her loyalty when his mother died. Zhi Wei was so expressive when sharing her feelings with other regarding her love for Ning Yi but she never told him. She just complied with everyone making decisions concerning her life with no objections. At this point in the drama both characters were almost not recognizable. Zhangsun Hong storyline single-handedly ruined a great show.
Ah, I remember Zhangsun Hong from the drama now. Sorry, I really did skip around quite a bit towards the end of the drama. Anyhow, I have no recollection of such a character in the novel at all so I am pretty sure he is not in the novel. I really don’t understand why the drama felt the need to create new characters when the novel had plenty of awesome characters they totally ignored. For example, Hua Qing is a minor female character that was our heroine friend in the drama, but in the novel, her character is super awesome. It will be a while before we get to her story but I am pretty excited to see what you guys think of the novel version of Hua Qing.
The creators wasted at least seven episodes on Hong Zhangson, while Hua Qing was such a great character that got killed so foolishly and unjustly. I think if they had kept her alive our leads probably would have gotten the ending we desperately wanted(she was her voice of reason).
What was the tenth prince character like in the novel? In the drama he seems like a humble brother that cares for and respects Ning Yi.
*The novel gives a better understanding so far.
I love her character in the drama, I can wait for you to translate it from the novel. She was a very good friend to ZW. I hated the way she died. I hope that she has a better fate in the novel. I did care for ZW real brother in the novel either. He manipulated quite a few scenes in the drama. He was responsible for Helian getting himself killed.
Been away for last month with sporadic internet so came home for a Ninja Binge of ROTP! Thanks so much for the translations, I particularly loved all the food allusions this last chapter with the half baked duck aunt and all those walnut references. Any significance of the walnut reference or just a simple food preference of Gu Nan Yi?
Nah, no particular importance as far as I know about the walnut.
Oh, how easy it is to visualize Ning Yi lounging in wait for Zhiwei in their carriage, as well has Zhiwei’s conflicting feelings of seeing him there lmao. I friggin love Ning Yi’s “wooing.” Relentless and cheeky.
I almost believed that Zhiwei and family were going to have an escape arc, away from the Capital. If I didn’t know better, I would think Ning Yi “suggested” Zhiwei to his father to lead the south sea expedition *cackles*
I do wish drama Gu Nan Yi’s could have been this comedic. Walnut. Thank you so much for the translation. I look forward to Monday!
Reading about all the awesome characters from the novel makes me wish they were better-developed in the drama :(. Thank you for another great translation.